Which Countries Use Solar Energy Most
Installations of solar power systems are growing rapidly around the world as countries step up renewable energy efforts and seek to cut carbon emissions from electricity generation.
China – 205 GW
China is the world’s largest market for solar power, and activity is likely to accelerate further over the next decade as the country develops plans to neutralize carbon emissions before 2060.
According to the IEA’s Renewable Energy 2020 report, China has the world’s largest installed solar fleet, measured at 205 GW in 2019.
In the same year, the country generated 223.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity from solar power.
Despite being the world’s top emitter, the size of China’s economy means that its enormous energy needs can be met by both the world’s largest coal and renewable fleets.
The largest single solar project in China is the Huanghe Hydropower Hainan Solar Park in Qinghai province (2.2 GW).
United States – 76 GW
In 2019, the US had the world’s second largest installed solar capacity, totaling 76 GW and generating 93.1 TWh of electricity.
Over the next decade, US solar installations are projected to reach nearly 419 GW as the country accelerates its clean energy efforts and attempts to fully decarbonize its energy system by 2035.
Utility-scale projects dominate the US solar industry, with California, Texas, Florida and Virginia among the most active states in the domestic market.
Japan – 63.2 GW
Japan ranks third among countries with the largest solar capacity, with a total fleet of 63.2 GW in 2019, generating 74.1 TWh of electricity, according to data from the IEA.
Alternative energy sources such as solar and other renewables have become more popular since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, prompting the country to significantly reduce its activities in nuclear power.
Japan has used feed-in tariff (FiT) schemes to encourage the deployment of solar technology, but the solar PV market is expected to slow slightly in the coming years.
Installed solar capacity in Japan could approach 100 GW by 2025, depending on government policies and cost reductions.
Germany – 49.2 GW
Germany is Europe’s leading country for solar deployments, generating 47.5 TWh of electricity in 2019 with a national fleet totaling 49.2 GW.
Competitive auctions have boosted the industry in recent years, and the German government recently proposed to increase its 2030 solar installation target to 100 GW as it aims for a 65% share of renewables in the energy mix by the end of the decade.
Small-scale private installations are common in Germany, incentivized by government support mechanisms such as surplus charging, and utility-scale projects are expected to grow in the coming years.
The country’s largest solar project to date is the 187 megawatt (MW) Weesow-Willmersdorf plant northeast of Berlin, developed by German utility EnBW.
India – 38 GW
India has the fifth largest installed solar capacity in the world, generating a total of 38 GW and 54 TWh of electricity in 2019.
Energy demand across India is expected to grow more than any other region over the next decade, and as the world’s third largest carbon emitter, policies are being developed to shift the country from fossil fuels such as coal to renewables.
Government targets include 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, and solar power is expected to be at the center of this target.
By 2040, the IEA expects solar power to account for around 31% of India’s energy mix under the currently stated policy targets, compared to less than 4% today.
The answer to the question of Which Countries Use Solar Energy the Most is as we have stated above. So What is Solar Energy?
What is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is the energy produced by nuclear fusion reactions in the center of the sun, where hydrogen atoms turn into helium atoms and reach the earth as sunlight. The source of all energy on Earth is solar energy. Solar energy provides heat and food for both humans and any other animal or plant.
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